Everybody talks about how rotten our government is but nobody does anything about it (with a nod to Mark Twain).  It is almost comical when our government gripes about how corrupt the Afghan and other governments are.  We have the most corrupt government on earth. Our government does not hand out large quantities of American cash to friends and relatives like Karzai does, or take flat out bribes as a way of doing political business. No, our politicians take enormous bribes but call them "lobbying" and "political contributions."  In return they hand out political and business favors to the big money interests, corporate and individual, who paid to get them elected.  Afghanistan, America it’s the same thing. Does it surprise anyone that the Congressional approval ratings averaged 13.8 per cent in five national polls?  It's the parties that are destroying our country because they are far more concerned with getting and holding power than governing our country.  Individual congressmen begin working toward reelection the day they take office (and cozy up to the money right away).   It is not surprising that polls show nearly 40 percent of voters describe themselves as independents (myself included). We are no longer a nation of government of, by and for the people, we are a nation that is of, by and for the political parties.  Yes, we need to take our country back.  Back from our political party machines.  To be continued.